No parallel extension, IGI plans fourth runway

NEW DELHI: The IGIairport will not have all parallel runways, enabling simultaneous independent flight operations on them. The Delhi International Airport Private Ltd (DIAL) has decided not to “straighten“ the smallest runway 27, closest to the Dwarka side, that would have made it parallel to the main runway 28 and the third airstrip 29. It has, instead, as reported by TOI, sent a proposal to the aviation ministry for building another runway.

“Straightening the smallest runway 27 will mean demolishing the budget terminal 1 and the other option of making this airstrip parallel to others is taking it towards the Palam technical area. Both these options are not viable. Hence, we have decided to keep this runway alignment as it is and have the fourth runway operational by 2020,” said a senior official.

The air traffic control was till some years ago in favour of “straightening” the runway 27 than building another one.

Now, the decision to not change its coordinates would mean the threat of closure will continue to hang over it.

Fearing a 911-type attack on several prime central Delhi symbols like Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan, the defence and security establishment have time and again sought the closure of runway 27 for commercial aircraft. Its final approach path for aircraft coming in to land from the AIIMS side is close to central Delhi. Therefore, the defence establishment wants only military and VVIP planes on this runway, said sources. In technical parlance, the security establishment wants to increase VIP 89, the no-fly zone of central Delhi.

Runway 27 becomes more crucial in the foggy winter months as IGI’s newest airstrip (29) suffers from very poor visibility due to its location. In those months, runways 28 and 27 handle the lion’s share of air traffic.